Microsoft's next data center buildings to use "zero-water" technology
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The upcoming fifth building of Microsoft's Ginger East Data Center in West Des Moines will use the company's latest zero-water cooling technology. Photo: Courtesy of the City of West Des Moines
Microsoft's next two data center buildings in West Des Moines will use new "zero-water" cooling technology, company officials tell Axios.
Why it matters: Communities across the country have wrestled for years with concerns that large data centers can strain local water supplies, especially during peak summer demand.
Catch up quick: In the last decade, Microsoft has launched five data center campuses in WDM, with two still under construction.
- Each site represents over $1 billion in construction investments.
Flashback: In 2023, WDM city leaders said they would consider only future data center projects that implement technology that significantly reduces peak water use — potentially stymieing future proposals or the full development of ongoing projects.
- At the time, data centers were consuming as much as 11.5 million gallons of water per month for cooling, or about 6% of WDM's total use during peak summer.
State of play: Microsoft launched designs in 2024 that continuously circulate water between servers and chillers to achieve "ultra-low" usage.
The fine print: Data center buildings that use zero-water cooling still use small amounts of water, but the consumption is negligible compared to those that use traditional cooling methods, according to the trade publication Data Center Knowledge.
The big picture: Implementing zero-water technology is a goal among a few data center operators.
- The systems are still relatively new and often more complex and costly than traditional water cooling methods, limiting broad adoption, per Data Center Knowledge.
Zoom in: Last week, the council approved a site plan modification for the fifth and final building at Microsoft's 124-acre Ginger East data center at 1475 SE Maffitt Lake Road.
- Another planned building at the company's nearby Ginger West data center will also use zero-water technology, Rich Massie, senior director of datacenter operations, tells Axios.
What they're saying: Ryan Hardisty, a principal at Civil Design Advantage in Urbandale and the project's civil engineer, described the technology to the council as cutting-edge.
- WDM Mayor Russ Trimble praised the approach, describing Microsoft as "great corporate citizens" and noting that the company has never exceeded agreed-upon water allotments.
The intrigue: The metro area experienced its first lawn-watering ban last year, a result of concerns that utilities would be unable to remove enough nitrates from area rivers to meet drinking water demands.
- Some clean water advocates have also voiced concerns that data centers using traditional water cooling methods also contribute to problems by adding chemicals that are later discharged into the environment.
What's next: Construction is expected to take about 18 months, Ryan Moffatt, WDM's community and economic development director, tells Axios.